Jackson had 2,842 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first season as the starter in 2014.

Jackson said there is no additional pressure to follow up his previous season.

"I think my game is going to bring us wins," he said. "I can't press myself to do better than what I did last season."

Wide receivers Dennis Parks (29 catches in 2014) and Zach Wright (25 catches) are expected to be among Jackson's top targets.

Seniors Andrew Reue and Caleb Williams are two returning starters on the offensive line for the Owls. Redshirt freshman left tackle Calvin Anderson, junior center Spencer Stanley and sophomore right guard Peter Godber are expected to fill out the line.

On defense, a familiar face returns to the line. For fifth-year senior Stuart Mouchantaf, the 2015 opener on Sept. 5 against Wagner will be his first game action since he suffered a knee injury against UTEP in 2013.

"It's been too long," Mouchantaf said. "I just want to get out there and do what I have been doing my entire life, which is play ball."

During offseason conditioning in 2014, Mouchantaf reaggravated the knee injury, which forced him to miss the 2014 season.

Mouchantaf said the hardest part of dealing with his injury was keeping his emotions together.

"Your heart would tell you one thing, and your head would tell you another," he said. "I just kept working each day."

His perseverance was rewarded by his teammates as he was selected as one of the team captains for the upcoming season.

Mouchantaf will be on a defensive front that will be without the services of NFL draftee Christian Covington and all-conference selection Brian Nordstrom, who combined for 10 sacks in 2014.

"We have depth up the middle," Mouchantaf said. "We just have to build around it."

Junior Alex Lyons, who led the team in tackles last season with 71, anchors the linebacking corps.

The Owls will have to replace four starters in the secondary.

"That is why we played true freshmen last season - so they can be ready this season," Bailiff said.

Sophomores V.J. Banks and Destri White and senior Zach Espinosa are expected to be in the mix for starting spots in the secondary when fall camp begins in August.

"We have some talent moving up in the program," Bailiff said. "We just have to count on some of those young ones to make plays for us."